Geoege s



(No Model.)

G.S.LADD.

WATUH cAsE.

No. 278,151. Patented May2 2,1883.

WITNEEEIEI INVZNTUH N. PETERS. Fhmouho m hen Wnshillgtuu. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'GEORGE S. LADD, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

WATCH-CASE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart ofvLetters Patent No. 278,151, dated May 22, 1883. Application filed January 30, 1883. (No model.)

provement in WVatch-Oases; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention has reference to an improvement in watch-cases, but is particularly applicable to plated watch-cases made of inferior metal, on one or both sides of which a plate of precious metal is secured by solder, and which is known in the artsas stock-plate. In such plated cases all parts forming the outside of the case are formed of the fine gold plate, which will resist all tests of acids and wear, as Well as the solid gold cases, with thesingle exception that where the covers are secured by the hinges to the center-rim the metal has to be cut away, so as to allow the cover to open, and at this place the inferior metalis exposed. This inferior metal is liable to oxidize and become unsightly, thereby injuring the appearance of the watch-case. In. fine solid gold cases the knurling of the center-rim wears off very rapidly at the hinges, as the watch, when in the pocket, rests on the knurling ofthe center-rim at this point. The object of this invention is to protect the exposed portion of inferior metal by a plate of gold, and in both solid and platedcases to protect the knurlingof the center-rim.

The invention consists in the application of a plate of gold' or other precious metal, extending to or beyond the knurling of the een terrim, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the part of a watch-case where the hinges are secured. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a watch-case, showing two plates secured to the center-rim, ex-

tending above the knurlin g of the center-rim. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a watch case, showing two plates secured to the center-rim to protect the sides and the knurling of the same. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a watchcase, showing the sides of the center-rim and the covers protected at the hinge by a plate.

In the drawings, A is the center-rim. a is the knurled portion of the same.

B B are the covers; 0 O, the hinges by which the covers are secured to the center-rim.

D D are the plates of precious metal with which theinferior metal is protected, and which form the outside of the case.

E E are the plates of precious metal by which the inferior metal nearthe hinges is covered and the edges of the covers or the knurlingofthecenter-rimareprotected. Theseplates E E not only cover theinferior metal, and thereby make the entire outer surface of a plated watch-case of precious metal, but theystrengthen and protect the edges of the covers when applied to them and the knurling of the centerrim but, in addition to this, they secure the tubes for the hinges more firmly and protect the' same, thus making this portion of a watchcase equally as durable as the rest of the case and able to resist the additional wear to which it is subjected.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination, with the center-rim of a watch-case, of the flat plate E, covering the flattened portion of the rim between the hinge and the edge of the rim, and extending beyond the rim to form a protection or wearingsurface, as set forth.

GEORGE S. LADD.

Witnesses:

J. A. MILLER, Jr., WM. L. 0001 

